Where wolves are few and human densities low: challenges in conservation of wolf populations in Northern Europe

Abstract

Due to anthropogenic activities and human population increase, habitats for large carnivores have been gradually shrinking at the global level. However, once exterminated large carnivores such as the grey wolf have been... [ view full abstract ]

Due to anthropogenic activities and human population increase, habitats for large carnivores have been gradually shrinking at the global level. However, once exterminated large carnivores such as the grey wolf have been recently making a comeback to many European countries and northern U.S. states. Wolves returned as constant breeding populations to Fennoscandia during the 1990s. Population sizes have remained small (currently 40-45 family packs in Scandinavia, 20-25 packs in Finland) although human densities are low and prey basis sufficient to sustain far bigger populations. Wolf-human co-existence is shaded by the loss of sheep, domestic reindeer and dogs to wolves, and human safety concerns deriving from wolf sightings in residential areas which is most common in human-dominated wolf territories. Compensation payments for damages – even if they are generous - do not seem to be an effective tool to reduce conflict (?)although they might be a necessity for conservation of wolf populations in wealthy Nordic countries where people have been used to get full compensations. In Scandinavia and Finland where dogs have a key role in hunting, hunting dogs are often considered members of the family. Illegal killing of wolves has been the primary determinant of population size although legal hunting has been practiced to mitigate wolf-human conflicts. Wilderness areas do not give shelter to wolves because the risk of getting killed by poachers is high in hinterlands where surveillance is just occasional. To improve wolves’ conservation status, research-based, regionally tailored recipes are needed to improve acceptance for human-wolf co-existence.